How do you celebrate love?

Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, it is a season of love. At the Yoga Center of Columbia, we provide classes, workshops, and trainings that offer love and support to nurture your body, mind, and spirit. But what does that mean truly?

Taking time for yourself is not selfish. In our culture today, everything is faster-paced and seems to be more urgent. What we have never seems quite good enough and the list of what we want continues to grow. This kind of attitude and lifestyle can lead to burn-out quickly. The work-play balance gets out of whack and we get irritated and unpleasant to ourselves and also to those around us. The body gets contracted and uncomfortable to live in. Our spirits lower.

Now, think of a time when you felt completely at ease, cared for, safe, and loved. Notice how your body responds simply to that thought. The body and mind are intimately connected and what affects one affects the other. You can nurture yourself by taking a little time for yourself. It is an investment in your mental health. Taking care of your body with a yoga, Pilates, or qigong class also takes care of your mind. Meditation takes caring for the mind a step deeper. All of these activities will bolster your spirit.

One of my teachers, Douglas Brooks, likes to say “little by little, again and again.” Yoga and mindful practices have stood the test of time because they work. If you do a little bit each week, there is a cumulative effect. Your family, friends, and community will notice a difference in you, but most of all, you will notice a difference in yourself. This Valentine’s Day, take care of yourself, won’t you?

With love, Kelly